Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F9/00—Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand

Definitions

• the art of the present invention relates to shafting for vitreoretinal or eye surgical 9 instruments in general and more particularly to an apparatus and method which utilizes smaller 1 Odiameter (i.e. larger gauge) shafts of tungsten carbide which provide less shaft bending or 1 --deflection while utilizing a smaller diameter shaft for the aforesaid eye surgical instruments.
• Current trends in posterior segment ophthalmic surgery are driving the development of 13ever smaller single shafted instrumentation.
• the introduction and mainstream adoption of sub 1 20 gauge surgery has been heretofore limited by inadequate instrument shaft stiffness.
• the present invention apparatus and method utilizes the use of specialty alloys for the
• 3 linstrument shaft which will impart a significant improvement in shaft deflection characteristics.
• tungsten carbide alloys can be utilized which typically have a 3 to 4 times higher 33modulus of elasticity than the ferrous stainless steels. These alloys will allow the surgeon to 34manipulate the instrument with limited regard to untended tip vectors caused by shaft bending. Instrument types including single shafted manipulators, picks, endo probes, light pipes, surgical knives, as well as vitreoretinal scissors and forceps can benefit from this improved shaft deflection characteristic.
• a rigid0 shafted instrumentation for vitreoretinal surgery device incorporates and utilizes in a preferred embodiment, a2tungsten carbide shaft having one or more of the aforesaid picks, probes, or knives attached at 3an first end or which have integral light pipes, scissors, or forceps attached or formed therewith 4 in order to provide the aforesaid stiffness desired.
• a second end of said shaft contains a handle 5form for manipulation or activation of said surgical tools.
• Alternative embodiments utilize other ⁇ alloys which typically have a 3 to 4 times higher modulus of elasticity than the ferrous stainless7 steels in the aforesaid applications.
• FIG. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the rigid shafted instrumentation 7for vitreoretinal surgery showing a typical utilization within a cross section of an eye globe. 8 Fig.
• FIG. 2 is a plan view of the prior art in comparison with the present art shown as a 9phantom shaft showing a typical utilization within a cross section of an eye globe.
• Fig. 3 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment or configuration whereby said shaft is lcomprised of a two part proximal stiff and a distal non-stiff or limp material.
• 1 Fig. 4 is a plan cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment showing the flexible 2 tubing around said shaft.
• 3 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the present art compared with the prior art eye surgical tool 4 showing the stiffness comparison by pushing one shaft against the other and observing the flex 5 in the prior art shaft.
• the present art device incorporates and utilizes in a preferred embodiment, a tungsten
• 12carbide shaft 12 having one or more of the aforesaid picks, probes, or knives attached at an first 13end or which have integral light pipes, scissors, or forceps attached or formed therewith in order 14to provide the aforesaid stiffness desired, (tungsten carbide is metallurgically represented as 15"WC")
• a second end of said shaft contains a handle 14 form for manipulation or activation of
• said shaft 2020 nearest said handle 14 utilizes the stiffer shafting described herein, i.e. tungsten carbide or 2 lequivalent.
• said shaft has a core fiber optic within said shaft 12. 22That is, the shaft 12, preferably of tungsten carbide, is hollow with an optical fiber within the 23hollow portion.
• flexible tubing 22 around the shaft 12 to contain the shaft 12 should it shatter or break. 26That is, since tungsten carbide is typically a more brittle material, it could leave remnants in the 27eye should it break. By surrounding the shaft with a flexible tubing 22, should breakage occur, 28remnants will remain within said tubing 22.
• said tubing 22 is a mylar heat shrink
• Said tungsten carbide shaft material is also available from a plurality of companies 31including Extramet Products, LLC, of Latrobe, Pennsylvania. 1 Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a rigid shafted instrumentation for vitreoretinal surgery apparatus and method has been presented to maximize shaft stiffness for

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Materials For Medical Uses (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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• 2005
  • 2005-03-02 US US11/070,788 patent/US20050209618A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-03-03 JP JP2007502091A patent/JP2008500841A/ja active Pending
  • 2005-03-03 WO PCT/US2005/007399 patent/WO2005086772A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2005-03-03 EP EP05724856A patent/EP1737401A2/en not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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